Motorized Ball Valve return...

[FishHead1]

I am considering using a motorized ball valve for the return off my Ampmaster to my 180.
Does anyone have experience with one of these? Any help or advice is appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Jeff Southernwood]

What size line do you have? There are several brands of valves that might work. We use them at work. You can get one that will close on loss of power. You should be able to get one up to 2".

 

[FishHead1]

It is 1 1/2" coming from my Ampmaster.

 

[lawndoctor]

Valler Industries sells them for about $500. www.valler.com.

 

[PDD]

smcnulty,

I removed all of my power heads and installed a 1/2" actuated valve using an intermatic timer and Iwaki pump. It works great. I have one 1" (I think) return line directly plumbed into the pump with two outputs on each side of the tank. Every couple of minutes the valve rotates.

I bought the valve from this gentleman: [email protected]

He was very helpful and came through with the product as advertised at a VERY affordable rate.

Good luck.

PDD

 

[esmithiii]

How affordable?

E

 

[Merkur]

all i gotta say is, if you want that funky wave action happining on your water return, here are two important words.

SEA SWIRL

amen brotha

 

[FishHead1]

Mekur,
I started a thread asking about the Sea Swirl and was amazed at the negativity. Almost everyone that posted had something terrible to say about the Sea Swirls.

 

[jamesw]

I have a 1" seaswirl and I love it. I cannot even hear it.

HTH
James

 

[Twinspot99]

Hi,
I got one of the 1/2" motorized 3 way ball valve from the same man ([email protected]) on eBay. I got mine for about $80. I hooked it up to a DPDT relay switch from McMaster and it has been working wonderful for the past 7 mos. I have not seen him listed the valve on eBay lately. Another place which you can get the valve is http://www.customaquatic.com/. It's a little more expensive but still less than Valler.
HTH

 

[Jeff Southernwood]

You could try this site www.magnatrol.com. They sell a 1-1/2" soleniod valve series "G" valve. The standard valve is bronze, but you can get it nickle plated w/ ss internals. The standard valve sells for about $240, I don't know how much the plated valve sells for. Good luck finding the valve you need. Hope this helps.

 

[TazzBear]

I have been looking for a rotating valve so I can place it inline with a pump so I can have it act as a wavemaker. I want to have a couple or one if possible that will allow the water to rotate between return pipes. I have seen one before but not sure where to get one. I want to eliminate the powerheads out of my tank.

 

[Speed]

If you find one let me know. I've been looking for almost a year now but when I have found them the price was in the 800.00 range. for that money I can buy pumps. According to Dolphin the only problem I should have switching pumps on and off would be the capaciter and that is replacible for less than 10.00.

 

[PDD]

FWIW

I second the comment on a Sea Swirl. I have both systems (Sea Swirl and ball valve set up)on my 120 and I love it. The Sea Swirl breaks up the current during its cycle - works very well.

PDD

 

[Merkur]

I'm more than happy to shamelessy plug and recomends seaswirls all day long. one of the best reef purchases i have made.

 

[Bocaswim]

Hi,
I am in the market for one of these items also, incase you hadn't already purchased an actuated ball valve, you might want to check out this site:
Let me know if you found another actuator.
Hayward Industrial

 

[StirCrazy]

Hey try this page for a good DIY idea.
http://avdil.gtri.gatech.edu/RCM/RCM/Aquarium/CirculationSystem.html
I am going to build one of thease myself when I go back to work in 2 weeks.

StirCrazy